PROVO — Provo will ring in the New Year with an international flair at this year's First Night celebration.

Events will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 31 at Provo Towne Centre with events focused around performances by Scottish bagpipers and Polynesian dancers, food-eating contests with exotic sausages, and cow tongue and crafts from foreign countries.

First Night participants will even get to have their photos taken in front of the Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal, thanks to a little digital photographic manipulation.

"We have a lot of cultural diversity in our community, and we thought this would be a good theme to visit," said Brian Smith, Provo's recreation supervisor.

City officials expect between 12,000 and 15,000 people at the event.

Other activities will feature an inflatable obstacle course, karaoke, a live band, the First Night singing competition, and fireworks at 9 p.m. and midnight.

Smith said the early fireworks show is a Provo exclusive, designed to appeal to families with small children who probably won't stay awake until midnight.

"I think we are the only community that has two fireworks shows because of our community's unique demographic," he said.

The public can buy buttons that will serve as tickets to the event at Provo's parks and recreation office, 351 W. Center, and Winger's at Provo Towne Centre, 1200 Towne Centre Blvd. Cost is $4 for ages 13 and over and $3 for children ages 4-12. Children age 3 and under are admitted free. Buttons are $1 more on the day of the event.

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